SANTA CRUZ PROVINCE, ARGENTINA: Dead Pampas fox, Grey fox and Geffroy's cat shot dead by sheep farmers to deter others. Gabriel Rojo / NPL / mediadrumworld.com

By Rebecca Drew

SHOCKING pictures have revealed a row of more than TWENTY dead foxes who were killed and left to hang by their necks as a warning to others.

SANTA CRUZ PROVINCE, ARGENTINA: Dead Pampas fox, Grey fox and Geffroy’s cat shot dead by sheep farmers to deter others. Gabriel Rojo / NPL / mediadrumworld.com

The unusual images show the animals stiffly hanging from a field fence in the countryside like alternative scarecrows after farmers shot and hung them up to deter other foxes from killing their livestock.

The remarkable shots were taken in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina by wildlife photographer Gabriel Rojo (47) from La Pampa, Argentina who was just passing through the area when he witnessed the spectacle.

 

SANTA CRUZ PROVINCE, ARGENTINA: Dead Pampas fox, Grey fox and Geffroy’s cat shot dead by sheep farmers to deter others. Gabriel Rojo / NPL / mediadrumworld.com
“I saw this during a trip through the Argentine Patagonia, the foxes were at the edge of the road, they caught my attention and I stopped to photograph them,” said Gabriel.

“Foxes are hunted by farmers as well as cats, pumas, and birds of prey because they are considered a threat to new born lambs.

“The farmers hunt these animals and hang them on the fence, there is a belief among the gauchos that this scene will scare off new predators.

 

SANTA CRUZ PROVINCE, ARGENTINA: Dead Pampas fox, Grey fox and Geffroy’s cat shot dead by sheep farmers to deter others. Gabriel Rojo / NPL / mediadrumworld.com
“My photos show a conflict of interest between the activities of man and wild animals.

“Wild predators take advantage of easy food and farmers care for their animals.

“I think an observer feels sorry for seeing so many dead animals, especially in times when wildlife is more value alive than dead with the large amount of tourists who like to see and observe wildlife around the world.”

 

SANTA CRUZ PROVINCE, ARGENTINA: Dead Pampas fox, Grey fox and Geffroy’s cat shot dead by sheep farmers to deter others. Gabriel Rojo / NPL / mediadrumworld.com
The pictures show the Pampas fox, Grey fox and a Geffroy’s cat.

Gabriel says that the practice of hanging up dead foxes to deter others has been around ever since farmers started to keep sheep on the land.

“I believe that this is a practice that has been in place from the very moment sheep began to be raised in Patagonia many years ago,” he explained.

SANTA CRUZ PROVINCE, ARGENTINA: Dead Pampas fox, Grey fox and Geffroy’s cat shot dead by sheep farmers to deter others. Gabriel Rojo / NPL / mediadrumworld.com
“The inhabitants of Patagonia are accustomed to seeing this scene and it should be noted that in these places hunting is allowed.

“This is not an illegal activity.”